Choosing colors that flatter your skin tone can enhance your natural glow, make your eyes pop, and even make your outfit look more polished. The trick to finding your best colors lies in understanding your skin tone and undertones. Here’s a guide to help you choose colors that will complement your unique complexion.

The first step is identifying whether you have cool, warm, or neutral undertones. While your skin tone refers to how light or dark your skin is, undertones are the subtle hues beneath your skin’s surface, and they remain consistent no matter the season or how tanned you are. Knowing your undertones can help you select colors that will make your complexion look vibrant and bright.

To determine your undertone, try one of these methods:

1. Vein Test: Look at the veins on the inside of your wrist. If they appear blue or purple, you likely have cool undertones. If they look green, you likely have warm undertones. If you can’t quite tell, or they seem to be a mix of blue and green, you probably have neutral undertones.
2. Jewelry Test: Try on gold and silver jewelry to see which complements your skin better. If silver flatters you more, you may have cool undertones. If gold suits you best, you’re likely warm-toned. If both look equally flattering, you probably have a neutral undertone.
3. Natural Sunlight Test: Observe your skin’s reaction in natural sunlight. If your skin has a rosy, pinkish hue, you might be cool-toned. If it leans more golden or peachy, you might be warm-toned. If you see elements of both, you may have neutral undertones.

Once you’ve determined your undertone, you can start selecting colors that flatter it:

• Cool Undertones: Cool-toned skin pairs well with colors that also have a cool base. Look for shades like sapphire blue, emerald green, lavender, and cool pastels such as soft pink or icy blues. Jewel tones like ruby red and deep purples are also flattering, as they highlight the coolness in your skin. Try to avoid overly warm colors like orange and gold, as they can sometimes wash out cool undertones.
• Warm Undertones: Warm-toned skin glows with earthy and rich colors. Choose shades like burnt orange, terracotta, mustard yellow, olive green, and warm browns. Golden yellows and warm reds like coral or peach are also great choices, as are creamy neutrals. Colors with cool bases, such as icy blues or purples, may clash with warm skin, making you look muted.
• Neutral Undertones: Neutral skin tones are versatile and can wear a broad spectrum of colors. Most neutrals, from ivory to gray to chocolate brown, will look stunning, as well as earthy greens, dusty pinks, and pastel shades. However, extremely warm or cool shades may sometimes overpower neutral skin tones, so opting for balanced colors with mixed bases can be a good approach.

In addition to choosing colors for your undertones, consider the depth of your skin tone. Light skin tones often look great in pastels, medium skin tones glow with mid-range shades like teal and cranberry, and deep skin tones pop with bold, saturated colors like royal blue and deep reds.

Incorporating these flattering colors into your wardrobe and makeup will help bring out your best features. Choosing colors that complement your skin tone is an easy way to look more vibrant and polished without much effort.